An American by birth, Adair arrived in Australia in the late 1990s with her young family for what was to be a three year adventure. Fifteen years on, she’s now an Australian citizen working to establish a writing career. She wrote her first novel, The Tower of Forgetting, in small stretches while her infant daughter napped — mostly as a way of re-inventing herself. Her second novel, Flesh, was written with more deliberation and is represented by the Curtis-Brown Literary Agency.

She has written a column for Arts Hub (http://www.artshub.com.au) called “The Write Style” on what an emerging writer can learn from avid reading. Additionally, she regularly contributes articles and reviews to other publications. In 2008, her short story “One Hundred Points” won the One Book, Many Brisbanes competition, which has led to other short fiction publications.

In addition to journalism and short fiction, Adair is now working on a third novel, Bound Earth, which examines social justice in contemporary Australia, and The Divine Sledgehammer, a memoir about love and illness.

Like this:

12 Responses

Have heard a lot about AdairJones and all of it has been what a great writer she is. Can’t wait to read all three of her novels, and I have visited her blog site and am purusing it at leisure. I am impressed with this young woman.

A friend referred me to this blog a while ago and I’ve been reading it regularly. Like mimric, I, too, am very impressed with this talented writer. I look forward to reading her books, and her blog will continue to be a source of reading pleasure for me.

Am so impressed with Adairjones as a critic, a reviewer, a writer and a reader. What a great deal of literary knowledge she has at her finger tips. Bravo. I hope to see you on site for many days, weeks, months and years to come.

Came across this blog looking for reviews of Bryce Courtnay’s new book. Now I’m looking forward to reading something of yours Adair.
I’m originally from the USA and my grandmother’s maiden name was Jones, Zetta Laffette Jones. Interesting your first name is Adair.
Some coincidence probably.
Thanks,
Mark Adair

First guilty confession. I was ego-surfing. It’s been a grim morning, my friends have been off for ages on one adventure or another, I’m stuck flailing away at a book that won’t behave, and every once in a long time (in this kind of situation) I let myself peek to see if anyone I don’t even know has said something nice about me. And look! Which has led me to this lovely site of yours, the thrill of knowing someone kindred out there in Australia, the thrill of reading a whole article on becoming a reader of Patrick White, and look how much more there is to distract myself with. I’ll be reading you….

Karen,
I’m delighted to hear from you. And don’t feel guilty about ‘ego-surfing’ — you deserve every bit of ego. I really loved your book. I have a network of several hundred readers through Facebook who subscribe to WordSearch. So many people here in Australia were excited to be introduced to you. But my mother and my sister (on Whidby Island off Seattle) had already read your book! Do you have a publisher here?

If you are ever down under, we must meet. But don’t wait ’til then to be in touch–I’d love to hear about your next (misbehaving) book.

Dear Adair I read your review on ‘Danny Dunn’. I have some concerns about this book and cannot ‘air’ them, and wonder if it is possible to contact you directly through e mail. I am a member of the QWC.

I’m writing on behalf of the Australian Women Writers Challenge team and would like to thank you for your participation in the AWW challenge this year. I was also wondering if you’ve seen our feedback survey?